Experts estimate antibiotic resistance will kill around 10 million people every year by 2050

BY LIZZIE PARRY

13th September 2016, 12:53 pm

Updated: 13th September 2016, 2:05 pm

Antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" may have met their match - in the form of a "Kryptonite" protein, scientists believe.

The molecules literally rip the vicious bacteria apart, new research suggests.

The star-shaped proteins are called structurally nanoengineered antimicrobial peptide polymers, or SNAPPs for short.

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Scientists at the University of Melbourne discovered a protein that tears apart the cell walls of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, killing them. The star-shaped polymers, in green, surround the bacteria, in red

Caters News Agency

The 'Kryptonite' protein (in green) destroy superbugs by tearing open their cell walls, before destroying the bacteria (in red)

They destroy superbugs by tearing open their cell walls - a discovery that has been hailed at potential breakthrough in the treatment of diseases, which have mutated to resist the effects of antibiotics.

Scientists at the University of Melbourne hope their findings will lead to the development of new drugs, that can replace the use of antibiotics.

Detailed images of the polymer in action show them, in green, surround the bacteria, in red, before destroying the bug.

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And other black and white microscopic images released by the scientists show the moment the bacteria appears to almost explode as the polymers attack.

Professor Greg Qiao, who led the study, highlighted the potential importance of their findings.

He said: "It is estimated that the risk of superbugs will cause up to 10 million deaths a year by 2050.

"In addition, there have only been one or two new antibiotics developed in the last 30 years."

This discovery could potentially be developed as an antibiotic replacement for treating bacterial infections that do not respond to currently available antibiotics anymore

PhD student Shu Lam

PhD student Shu Lam, who also worked on the research, said the team hope this could lead to a type of drug, to replace antibiotics.

"This discovery could potentially be developed as an antibiotic replacement for treating bacterial infections that do not respond to currently available antibiotics anymore.

"We are still at a preliminary stage and need to perform more detailed, comprehensive assessments on the star peptide polymers.

"A more thorough understanding of how these molecules work in killing bacteria, and whether they work against different bacterial infections."

She said it is still too early to conduct clinical trials.

The team found that, as well as being highly effective against superbugs, SNAPPs are non-toxic to the body, with tests showing that the dosage would need to be increased by a factor of greater than 100 to pose any risk to patients.

Caters News Agency

This microscopic image shows some bacteria, in black, shortly before the polymers attack it

Caters News Agency

After ripping the bacteria's wall the polymers are able to destroy it, with the bacteria seemingly 'exploding'

Furthermore, superbugs showed no signs of resistance against these peptide polymers.

The scientists discovered that their star-shaped peptide polymers can kill bacteria with multiple pathways, unlike most antibiotics which kill with a single pathway.

They believe that this accounts for the superior performance of the star-shaped peptide polymers over antibiotics.

One of these pathways includes 'ripping apart' the bacteria cell wall.

While more research is needed, Professor Qiao and his team believe that their discovery is the beginning of unlocking a new treatment for antibiotic-resistant pathogens.